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July 24, 1928. 1,678,234

L. D. SOUBIER GLASSWARE ANNEALING LEER Filed July 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 24, 1928. 1,678,234

L. D. SOUBIER GLASSWARE ANNEALING LEER Filed July 2, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 o o o o o o o \0 o o July 24, 1928. 1,678,234

L. D. SOUBIER GLASSWARE ANNBALING LEER Filed July 2, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 24, 1928.

GLAS SWARE ANNBALING LEER Filed July 2, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 4 I g 5 3?. gnucntot Patented July 24, 1928.

(UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

LEONARD D. SOUBIER, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE OWENS BOTTLE COMPANY,

' OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ACORPORATION OF OHIO.

I GLASSWARE-ANNEALING LEER. I

Application filed July 2, 1927. Serial an. enema.

The present invention relates to improvements in glassware anhealing'leers and particularly to that typecompris'ing a tunnel through which ware'is carried for heat treatment and ten'ipering. I

An object of the present invention is to provide a leer heating unit whichmay be so regulated and controlled that temperature conditions in the heating zone of .the leer disclosed resides in, the fact that hot centers and relativelycool side areas along the heating 'zone of the leer are eliminated. Accordingly, all Warepassing [through the heating :zone is uniformly heated to the proper degree and the creation of strams and checks in the glassware is reducedto a minimum.

Other objects will be apparent hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings:

w Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the ware receiving end of a leer showing the control for the heating unit.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, through one of the recuperator tubes and its heating element, this section being taken substantially on the line II-I I of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation taken substantially along the line III III of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical central longitudinal sectional view showing the improved heatin; unit applied to a leer.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line V-V of Fig. t.

Fig. 6 is a detail side elevation of one of the recuperator tubes and its heating element.

Fig. 7 is an inside plan view of one of the heating elements and the retainer.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the switch members which control the supply of electric current to a transverse'set of heating elements; the latter being diagrammatically illustrated.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical circuits. I i

'Referring to the drawings, the leer comprises side walls 10 and'cove'i" 11, formed of suitable insulating material. A gate 12 is arranged atthe ware receiving-end, said gate being adjustable to vary the size of the opening 13 through which ware'is placed upon an endless ware conveyor 14 extending lengthwise of the leer tunnel and running over sprockets 15 mounted on transverse shafts 16 (Fig. 4). The longitudinal reaches ofthe ware conveyor 14' are spaced apart vertically and between these' reaches is arranged a heating unit and the conduits through which the heated air which forms the annealing medium returnsto the heating unit after being exhausted from the leer tunnel. 1

According to the present disclosure, "the heating unit or recuperator comprises ahollow lower casting or base 17 which is open at its inner end providing communication with a conduit 18 (Fig. 4) through which the annealing medium is returned to the recuperator. The upper wall 19 of the hollow base 17 is formed with a series of apertures 20 opening into transverse channels or ways'21 in which slide valves 22 are seated. These slide valves are formed with openings (not shown) and are movable longitudinally in their respective channels to thereby control the exhaust of annealing medium from the hollow base 17. This feature and the means for exhausting the annealing medium from the leer tunneLinto the return pipe 18 are fully set forth in a copending application of Percy Q. lVilliams, Serial No. 129,373, filed August 16, 1926, to which applicationreference maybe had for' details.

Recuperator tubes 23 (Figs. 4 and 6) are set upright on the base 17 in such position that the longitudinal passageway 24 through each tube is vertically aligned with one of the openings 20 in the upper wall of the base 17. A top casting or retaining plate 25, also provided with a series of openings 26 aligned with the tube openings 24, is arposition wh Ii assembled.

ranged upon the upper ends of the set of tubes 23. Thus, the tubes are .heldin proper assembly. The front end of the rceuperator unit is left open and provided with deflector 5 plates 27 by which a portion of the heat in the recupcrator is applied directly to the ware conveyor pans just prior to arrival at the ware receiving station. Thus the ware conveyor is preheated eliminating the neceslfl sity for providing special apparatus for this The inner cn-dof the recuperator purpose. or heating unit I is tn eforablyshut.off iron i thefremainder of the leerby a transyerse wall 2 form d- 0 su ta r ractoryand faced with an insulating material2 9 which s.. d. mplasey; new. 39 (Fi -:4).

Each recuperator tube 23 is. prov ded at its ends .with rectangular heads .31 for; prope 'ly,.s pacinm the tubes and holding fthem .in i The bes. r electrically heatcdsothat they will suit bly l ,ie at the air circulating through them and thereby 7 provide an annealing medium, of the .desired temperature. For heating I the tubes,

.21 heating element32 is providedffor; each .tube, .which element in the form of the invention illustrated, is carried by a retaining member 33 formed of asbestos or similarn o n-conducting material. The :heating eleyment, is preferably .of zigzag. formation .(z iea a a up t lg uuei'. .tac

of e. ar er-= e ai s 3- .E fl i he g .elementand carrier'are; appliedlto the corresponding recuperator tube (sec Figsfl,

3.and.(}), the carrier forminga cylindrical jacket which entirely encloses'qtlie tii bnlar body between-,thc head's 3,1 apdiisjhjeld in such position by, retaining 'bands'35. The twoends'34tFig. T) of the li ating element 40 are brought to a position near the base of the tube and connected to terriiinal contacts 37. (Figs. 3 andt .carried-on the 1 ba nd. 35. These contacts,lare vertically fs'paced the upper contact being sccuredfto an upstanding earv 36 onl'he rctaininglband 3.5, the con tactsbeing insulated from each other.

The recuperator tub cs are arranged in sets extending transversely of'thc leer, each set as shown in Fig. 5 comprising five tubes,

there being eight sets of these-tubcs'in the recuperator as shown. Obviously; the num- .ber'of sets of tubes and'the number of individual tubes in each set may be varied. In, arranging a transverse set of re'cuperator 55 tubes equipped with heating'g leipents as above set forth, the contacts '37 are all positioned-tO face in heosamedi e tien, ,for a purpose hereinafter apparent.

Each transverse set ofheating'elements is r gu ated a d nt l dy. a ingl 1 trolling device, such as shown in Fig. ,8, thercbeing a separate controlling device for each set'ofheating elements. Referring parti l lyitaFigs- 8.a i ea e ro ing device comprises an electrical conductor 46 in the form of a rod or shaft extending transversely of the leer and mounted for rotatiye adjustment. On said rod aremounted collars 51 formed with lugs 50 adaptedto be brought into electrical engagement with cor respondingspring contacts 148 =mountedon butsuitabiy insulated from a transverse supporting rod 47. A spring contact finger 45 'zilsdmoifntedbn the rod 47 bears continuousl against the shaft 46 and is connected to't ie"ni'ain"lili'e"conductor A. Each of the heating ele nents 32 has oneend thereof elgetrically Y connected through a conductor 49qqith a corresponding contact finger 48. f imepre i e iidflffih a ng e e are connected to a conductor '41 leading' to fieai i frii an ,,s 'a la. qar aj electrical ntea .sii'p'ply mat cal'ly' asa battery 44. .Ainain control ,5 rieiain c i dia ra swrtgih43un uie m'ainline canlb e opened to disconne 3X1 f hs te t t i nt r the source. of current supply;

Ea cli'of thecollars; 51 i's .provided' with one 5 mm Jags t e nu and a rarigem'ent of these lugs being such that by rotationof th shaft 4 t 3,' the circuitsfor' the heating elements 32 'may be selectively established. .For'eiample, as shown in Fig.

8, the co 11 rsa r ;;sd "positioned thatfthe lugs .5 1-Q qum th c l r? (nam ly, l b the m ddle. foi r co rffl' ndi'ng spring contacts 48, t fe' je y liizply nacflrten t the o e p ing'pairs'of heating elements at opposite essifihaicent f th l a g o ;The c 'n' 1 o1 jr d4 ig mounted in hearings '(n otfshowni in a hou sing 5 atone side of the 'lge'rjzmtrn manuallyfrotatable by means tljf gtlkn Qb sti rib 1 and s This knob carries a,pbinte r,5 which works over a statio'narydl'al plate 61 by which the opera- As'indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 9, the several transyerse sets of heating elements are connected inparall el to.the.mains A and fB leading to thebattery 44. Each transverse .set of heating elements has associatcd therewith a housing or conduit 40 (Figs. 3 and 5 eatendingtransversely'across the leer, which housing encloses and proteets within the recuperator the conductors 49. Electrical connection between the conthe niQFB Th mai i Me d are are' 'enga'ged with the lliU ' tacts 42 connected to the conductor 41, the latter as shown in Fig. 3 comprising a wall of the conduit 40.

The housing 55 for the current control devices communicates through a closed passageway 58 with'a' casin'g'59 which encloses the outer ends of the conduits 40"(Fig. 5). In operating this'type of leer, the main control switch 43is closed so that the supply of' cur'rent to the transverse sets of heatlng elements may be indi'vidually regulated by adjustment of fknobs'f56 The annealing medium is circulated'by any suitable propelling mechanism (not'shown) and "in its circulation passes-upwardly through the recuperator "tubes 23 wherein the medium is brought to -the"j'proper" temperature for. introductioainto the; heating zone. At times, conditions are such that'application of additional 'heat'to the annealingmedium along the sides of the heating zone, and adecrease at the center would be ofconsiderable advantage in annealing the ware.

With the; above described heating unit, the elements at the opposite sides of the unit may be operated"independently of the central unit tot-Hereby balancethetem'perature transversely of the'heatingzone' and cause uniform heating of ware passing through this zone. Because of, the adjustability' of the contact carrying collars 51' on the control rod 46, it is seen that various combinations may be obtainedas required by the particular type of ware bein annealed and in accordance with the individual requirements of any particular leer. The length and-effectiveness of the heating zone may'be accurately regulatedby adjustment of the current control devices and may be further controlled by adjustment of the transverse slide valves 22 at the lower ends of the recuperator tubes 23. For example, the first five sets of tubes may be operating to heat the annealing medium passing therethrough into theheating zone, while the heating elements on the remaining tubes are'inaetive. Itmaybe objectionable to allow any portion of the annealing medium to return to the heating zone without having-been preheated in the rccuperator. Under these conditions, the slide valves 22 are readily adjusted to close the lower ends of these remaining tubes, thereby forcing all of the annealing medium to pass through the tubes further forward in the unit. On the other hand, it may be desirable to operate alternate sets of the heating elements, utilizing the intermediate sets of tubes to merely convey portions of the annealing medium to the heating zone.

With this arrangement, there is introduced into the heating zone, separate streams of annealing medium of difi'ercnt temperatures These separate streams co-mingle and if the current control devices are properly adjusted, this annealing medium resulting from mixing the several streams, is of the proper degree of temperature when it passes through the ware conveyor 14 into contact with the ware being annealed. Other various relative settings of the current control devices and adjustments of the slide'valves 22 are-obtainable to permit practically any desired temperature conditions in the heating zone and the ready application of additional heat to any area desired.

Various modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

lVhat I claim is:

1. In a glassware annealing leer, a Ware receiving tunnel, a heating unit at one end of the tunnel comprising a plurality of recuperator tubes, heating elements individual to the tubes, and means to vary the operation of the heating unit by rendering certain of the heating elements inactive.

2. In a glassware annealing leer, a ware receiving tunnel, a heating unit comprising a plurality of recuperat-or tubes through which the annealing medium passes for introduction into the tunnel, electric heating elements individual to the tubes, means to supply electric current to the elements, and means to shut oil supply of current to certain ot' the elements to thereby vary the operation of the heating unit.

In a glassware annealing leer, a ware receiving tunnel, a heating unit comprising a plurality of transversely aligned sets of recupcrator tubes, an electric heating ele ment individual to each tube, means to supply electric current to the heating elements,

and means to shut off the supply of current to any one or more of said sets of heating elements to thereby vary the operation of the heating unit 4. In a glassware annealing leer, a ware recciving'tunnel. a heating unit comprising a plurality of recupcrator tubes arranged in transversely aligned sets, a heating element for each tube, means to supply electric current to the heating elements. current control devices individual to the transverse sets of tubes. and means whereby adjustment of the control devices varies the number of active. heating elements.

5. In a. glassware annealing leer, a ware receiving tunnel, a heating unit at one end of the tunnel comprising a plurality of recuperator tubes, electric heating elements individual to the tubes, means to supply electric current to the heating elements. controlling devices operable to shut off the supply of current to certain of the elements independently of other elements to thereby vary the efi'ectiveness of the heating unit, and means to causecontinuous circulation of an annealing medium through the recuperator tubes and leer tunnel.

6. In a glassware annealing leer, a ware rerciving tunnel, a heating unit atone end of thetunnel comprising a plurality of recuperatortubes, electric heating elements in dividnal to the tubes. means to supply electric current to the lieating.elements, controllingdevieesoperable to shut oil-the supply of current to certain of the elements independently of, other elements to thereby vary theeti'ectiveness of the heating unit, means to cause continuous circulation of an annealing medium through the recuperator 'tubesand leer tunnel, and slide valves adjustable to eliminate certain of the tubes from the path of circulation otthe annealing medium.

. 7. In a glassware annealingleer, aware weceiving tunnel, a heating unit at one end of'the tunnel comprising a plurality of recuperator tubes, electric heating elements individualto the-tubes, ineanstosupply electric current to the heating elements, current flow control devices operable to shutoff supply of. current to certain of the elements independently of other elements to thereby vary .the effectiveness of the heating unit, means to cause continuous circulation of an annealing medium through the 'recuperator tube-sand leer tunnel, and a series of'longi tudinally spaced transversely adjustable valve slides operable to eliminate .one or more groups of tubes from the path of cir- .culation.of the annealing medium.

8. A heating unit of the class described comprising sets of transversely spaced tubes, electric heating elements individual to the tubes, means to supply electric current to the heating elements, and current ilow regulators individual to each transverse set of tubes.

9. A heating .unit of the class described comprising sets of transversely spaced tubes, electric heating elements individual to the tubes, means to supply electric current to-the heating elements, current flow regulators individual to each transverse set of. tubes. and .means whereby adjustment of each regulator functions to vary the number oi effective heating elements in each transverse set.

10. A heating unit of the class degcribcd comprising sets of transversely spaced tubes, electric heating elements individual to the :tubes, means to supply electric current to the heating elements, current flow regulators individual to each transverse set of tubes, and valve slides adjustable to partially or completely close any one or more sets of tubes.

11. A heating unit of the class described comprising sets of transversely spaced tubes, electric heating elements individual to the v ve 3 adju tab e t shi l! emm mm {between sa d-i allewiba eead .a d Lea a eway ?l' Q- Fl?l im em nts iad vidual-to the tubes. I

13. A heating unit -:of the. class; described mp her qn e l B b mb versely aligned tubes,'a,topj ramp member arranged upon. the I p n aligned w t P $ag w a -u the tubes, a .hollow base., nepihei supporting the tubes havingnpeninsali ed. with the. passageways through l3%6 til es .,slide valvesadjustablejto shut ofi: communication between said hollow base and theituh'e's, electric heatingele nents individual [tumb e tubes, means t upp yel qtri car zea t the heating elements, andcurrent flow control regulators individual .t leach liens-terse. set .of

' elements.

A :hea n enitt .e s fee i comprisinghorizontally spaced sets 'o f trans e y aligned tu s, ..t' .p.- 2 m lm mb arranged upon the tubes and formed with p n e gn ith. 'passeg ay 'th oug the tubes, a hollow baSegmemhGC-SHPP-Orting the tubes having. openings aligned'with the passageways through the-tubesslide valves adjustable to shut qti communication between saidhollow base-andsaid t ibes, electric heating elements individualtotthetubes, means to supply,el ectric current-tothe heating elements, currentflow control regulators individual to eachtnansverseset of elements, and means whereby. each currentfiQS Control regulatormaybe adjusted to vary thenumberof active heating elements imthecQrrespending transverse set.

15. In an annealing leer, v of a heatingchamber,asetof electricalresistances-in said chambenarranged at intervals transversely thereof, and a controlling device nianuallyo erabIe' toselectively con neet said resistances in circuit with a source of current supply. i

16. .In an annealingleer the combination of aheatingchamber a set-0f electrical resistances insaid ehamberarranged at intervals transversely .thcreqt, ,a controlling .1w ba ember sunp r mg:

termed with;

the combination 7 device manually operable to selectively connect said resistances in circuit with a source of current supply, said controlling device comprising contacts so arranged that in one position of adjustment only the outer said resistances are connected in circuit, in another adjustment all of said resistances are connected in circuit, and in another adjustment all of said resistances are rendered inactive.

17. In an annealing leer, the combination of a heating chamber, a plurality of sets of electrical resistances within said chamber, each set comprising a series of individual resistances spaced at intervals transversely of the chamber, said sets being arranged one in advance of another in a direction lengthwise of the leer, manually o erable controlling devices individual to sai sets of resistances, and conductors leading from the resistances to a source of current supply, each said controlling device being operable to selectively connect the resistances of the set in the circuit.

18. In an annealing leer, the combination of a heating chamber, a multiplicity of electrical resistances in said chamber, said resistances being arranged to form rows extending transversely of the leer and also in rows extending lengthwise of the leer, and controlling devices for selectively connecting the resistances in circuit with a source of current supply, said controlling devices being operable to selectively connect in circuit the individual resistances in the rows extending in one of said directions and for selectively connecting in the circuit the individual rows of resistances extending in the other said direction.

Signed at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and7 State of Ohio, this 30th day of June, 192

LEONARD D. SOUBIER. 

